It is a great effect, but few even know about it, especially in the USA. Magicians who do it are very secretive about it and try not to include it in the programme if they know another magician is out there watching. This has kept it out of the hands of the incompetent for many years.

I saw a rather poor presentation on YouTube recently, but the poor klutz was so bad I don't think anyone would know it was an attempt to do Tyler's Silken Saga.

If you see a magician performing it correctly, it will blow you away and you will roll around on the floor laughing for days. At least, that's always the effect it has had on me.

I would have to say that Silken Saga is the jewel of children's entertainment. I rarely perform it these days for the very reason that Spellbinder says. I am paranoid about there being a magician in the audience. I find it plays as well to an audience of children as to one of adults. I will warn you in advance that I do not want anyone emailing me for further information, as it will not be forthcoming! JR

Jolly Roger wrote: I will warn you in advance that I do not want anyone emailing me for further information, as it will not be forthcoming! JR

I guess we'd better let this thread disappear quietly, because I'm starting to get PM's and e-mails from the curious as well. I'm referring them to Mark Lewis for more information. He always claims that mere mention of his name on a forum is enough to get a thread locked, so we'll see if it's true.

As April of 2013 draws nearer, I have to quell the rumor that Tyler's Silken Saga will be released this year, or any year in the foreseeable future. I am already getting requests for reservations, so as not to waste anyone's time please put me down for two if anyone else is bringing it to market, otherwise know that the Nook has None.

Tyler's original version was published in The Magic Wand without his permission.

Eric Sharp's handling and routine was published in one of his books.

Leave it to a Q. Kumber to mention a magic magazine without listing the issue number, month and year of publication (page would be nice as well). It's so very British to assume that each magician owns every single one of Eric Sharp's books and can go scrambling off to the library to find the exact tome needed to check the veracity of a garden vegetable. Not that I'm a sour pickle about such things, but even a cucumber could be a bit more helpful.